Fruit-gatherer.



N0. 657,!!8. Patented Sept. 4, I900. J. KEEFER & H. H.- KARR.

FRUIT GATHERER.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN KEEFER AND HENRY H. KARE, OF FARMER CITY, ILLINOIS; SAID KARR ASSIGNOR TO SAID KEEFER.

FRUlT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 657,1 18, dated September 4, 1900. Application filed February 27, 1899. Serial Ne. 706,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN KEEFER and HENRY H. KARR,citizens of the United States, residing at Farmer City, in the county of De WVitt and State of Illinois, have invented cer= tain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Gatherers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in fruit-gatherers, and has special reference to that class of gatherers for picking fruit from trees to insure against bruising or in any wise injuring the same.

The main object of our invention is the provision of a fruit-gatherer in which the operation of gathering is very easy and insures a careful and speedy gathering of the fruit and a device which is the embodiment of simplicity, durability, and inexpensiveness, thus producing a very useful'and practical article.

To attain the desired objects, the invention consists of a fruit-gatherer embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as disclosed therein.

Figure l is a perspective view of our complete fruit-gatherer. Fig. 2 is a detail detached view of the stationary and movable jaws forming the fruit-receptacle of our device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lever used in connection with the receptacle.

In the drawings, A designates the stafi, which has secured upon its upper end the block B, to which is secured or attached the stationary fruit receptacle or jaw O,whose top edge D is flanged and bent around to be strengthened by the wire E. Hinged to the bottom of the block B is the movable receptacle or jaw F, which is similar in construc tion to the receptacle 0. Secured to the receptacles or jaws are the cutting-blades G for severing the fruit.

Secured upon the outside of the block B upon each side of the staff are the pair of flat springs L, whose free ends press against the block of the movable jaw to hold the same closed or tightly down upon the stationary jaw, and to make the tension of the springs stronger we form the slots M in the rigid ends of them, which allow the springs to be ad justed up or down upon the screw N.

Secured upon the lower edge of the mov able jaw is the pulling wire or cord 0, which is guided downward through the inclined opening or channel P in the staff to the curved arm Q of the lever B, which is also formed with the pair of depending arms T, which straddle the staff and form a fulcrum for the lever by means of the pin U, which passes through the openings in the arms and the body of the staff and holds the lever in place. We form the lever with the long grasping portion V, which acts as a handle to be pressed upon to open the jaws of the gatherer.

From this description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of our device is readily understood and its advantages fully appreciated 5 but, briefly stated, it is as follows: The handle of the lever is pressed upon, thus pulling upon the wire or cord, which in turn opens the hinged or movable jaw. The stationary receptacle or jaw is then placed beneath the fruit in such a manner as to allow its blade to contact the fruits stem. When the lever is released, the springs then close the movable jaw, whose blade cuts the stem of the fruit, which is then in the receptacle without being bruised or otherwise injured.

It is evident that we provide a simple, durable, and cheap device of the character named and also a very useful and practical one.

We claim- A fruit-gatherer comprising a staff, a jaw having a top, a bottom and three sides and rigidly affixed on the upper end of said staff, a movable jaw hinged to the bottom of the fixed jaw and having top, bottom and three sides, the two jaws being arranged with their open sides adjacent, springs on the rigid jaw acting on the under side of the movable jaw, In testimony whereof we affix our signacutting-blades on the adjacent edges of the tures in presence of witnesses. jaws at their outer ends, a lever pivotally JOHN KEEFER. mounted on the staff, and means connected HENRY H. KARE.

5 with the lever, passed through the staff and Witnesses to signature of John Keefer:

connected with the lower portion of the mov- L. R. I-IERRIGK, able jaw upon the side opposite that which is IDELLA HESKETT. hinged and upon the opposite side of the staff Witnesses to signature of Henry H. Karr: to that upon which the said lever is pivoted, J AS. ROBINSON,

IO substantially as shown and described. WM; WEIGLE. 

